Radio talk show host Thaddeus Matthews arrested in domestic incident

Controversial radio talk-show host Thaddeus Matthews was arrested Monday night, charged with stalking and harassing a woman with whom he used to be involved.

By Tuesday morning, though, the 56-year-old Matthews was out on a $5,000 bond and proclaiming his innocence.

According to police and court documents, the incident involves Matthews and Towonna Murphy, 40, who now lives at a home in the 3200 block of Gaylord Lane in the Parkway Village area.

On Sept. 6, Brenda Askew, a friend of Murphy's and the resident of that home, filed a complaint with police, saying Matthews was driving by the house and taking photos.

She added that he was posting those photos on Facebook while also making "inappropriate claims to the state" about Youth Connection Agency, the learning center Askew operates. She asked him to stop, police said, but he refused.

The situation escalated around 9:30 p.m. Friday, when Murphy called police to report prowlers outside. When police arrived, bail bondsmen were on the scene. The bondsmen took Murphy into custody on an outstanding warrant on traffic charges. According to one police affidavit, they took her into custody when she stepped outside. Askew, however, told police they pried open a storm door to get her.

As this was happening, according to an affidavit, Matthews showed up and started taking pictures of the scene. An enraged Murphy then kicked Matthews in the groin, police said. Murphy was taken to Jail East, where she remains on a $1,000 bond.

Askew told police, however, that Matthews was there before the bondsmen grabbed Murphy. She said he was banging on the door and calling Murphy to come out, scaring four young children in the home, Askew said.

Matthews denies nearly all of that, including the claim that Murphy was his former girlfriend, as one police report stated.

"We didn't date," Matthews said. "Did I have sex with her? Yes."

According to Matthews, he signed for Murphy's $2,500 bond when she was arrested for a driving offense. She didn't show up for court, Matthews said, so he directed bail bondsmen to the Gaylord address.

"I parked 100 yards away to not be recognized," Matthews said."Bounty hunters went to the house, surrounded the house, took the door off. Bounty hunters were calling for her to come out, not Thaddeus Matthews. Thaddeus Matthews was in a vehicle."

Matthews said that that was the first time he'd been to the home on Gaylord, contrary to Askew's complaint. He also said the photos he posted were sent to him by someone else.

"I don't even remember what I was doing Sept. 6, but I know it wasn't passing by her house," he said. "Yes, I took a picture of her on the street, not on the property as she kicked me. The rest of the stuff in this affidavit is all crazy, just hearsay."

Matthews believes Askew filed the complaint in retaliation because he was "investigating" her learning center.

This is just the latest brush with the law involving Matthews. Last November, Matthews was charged with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor, especially aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor and exploitation of a minor after posting a photo on his website that depicted child pornography. He said he posted the photo to help police identify and aid the child. Police later charged two girls — ages 13 and 16 — with aggravated sexual exploitation of a minor in the case. Police said they also posted the photo on Facebook.

In the past, Matthews has also been arrested for aggravated assault and unlawful possession of a weapon.